November 6, 2020
Dear Neighbours,
As we continue to fight against of COVID-19, it is very important that we continue to take steps for self-protection, including, practicephysical distancing, wash hands as often as possible, wear a mask or face covering where mandatory or when physical distancing cannot be maintained. Please consider only leaving home for essential activities such as work, education and fresh air and exercise. Residents are asked to limit contact with people not in the same household and to remain at home when ill.
Getting a flu shot is one of the best ways to protect yourself and others from the flu. It is especially important this year to help protect our healthcare system during the fight against COVID-19. Learn more about the flu online at www.toronto.ca/flu and book your flu shot appointment at www.tphbookings.ca
City of Toronto proclaimed November 5 to 11 as Remembrance Week in Toronto. This year, Remembrance Day commemorations will be held virtually in keeping with public health advice against in-person gatherings due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The City’s virtual commemorations will focus on the diversity of Toronto’s participation in times of war and significant milestones, as 2020 marks the 75th anniversary of the end of the Second World Ward and 100 years of marking Remembrance Day with a public ceremony. Commemorative activities planned for Remembrance Day can be found online.
#GetYourPoppy and show your support this month! Wearing a Poppy honours the memory of our veterans and their ultimate sacrifice. In addition to traditional poppy boxes – which will be available at over 25,000 locations across Canada – keep an eye out for the Royal Canadian Legion’s new tap enabled Poppy boxes!
City of Toronto COVID-19 Case Update: (Data as of November 5, 2020) There has been an increase of 324 COVID-19 cases in the City of Toronto. There are 159 people currently hospitalized. Through the pandemic the City of Toronto has seen a total of 30,623 cases of COVID-19, of these, 25,863 cases have recovered. To this date, there have been 1,399 COVID-19 deaths in Toronto, an increase of 3 deaths from the day before. Case status data can be found on the City’s reporting platform. Province of Ontario status of COVID-19 Cases can be found here.
While COVID-19 has affected everyone, it continues to have a greater impact on those in our community who face greater health inequities. Toronto Public Health data has shown:
The data on the pandemic underscores existing issues related to the social determinants of health, including education, employment, housing and income, that need to be better addressed. Toronto Public Health is working with the health system and community and government partners to keep all residents as healthy as possible. More information can be read here.
The province intends to move Ontario’s public health unit regions into the Keeping Ontario Safe and Open Framework. This framework categorizes health regions into five levels: Green-Prevent, Yellow-Protect, Orange-Restrict, Red-Control, and Lockdown. At the request of the local medical officer of health, Toronto Public Health would remain in modified Stage 2 until November 14, 2020.
As of Saturday, November 7, 2020 at 12:01 am, Peel Regional Health Unit would be moved into the Red-Control level and Ottawa Public health and York Region Public Health would move into the Orange-Restrict level. Details on the remaining public health unit levels and measures required for each level can be found in the Keeping Ontario Safe and Open Framework. Long-term care home visitor restrictions remain in effect for Toronto, Ottawa, Peel and York public health unit regions.
The City of Toronto’s 50 Automated Speed Enforcement (ASE) devices issued a total of 9,719 between September 6 and October 6, the third month of tickets being issued to vehicles travelling in excess of the posted speed limit. All 50 ASE devices will be moved to new locations starting this week to address a greater number of areas with safety concerns and to encourage a wide-ranging deterrent effect. Signage has been posted at all new locations to warn drivers in advance. Warning letters in lieu of tickets will not be issued. More information about the program and a map of all locations is available at www.toronto.ca/ASE
The 2021 staff-recommended rate-supported operating and capital budgets were launched at the Budget Committee today. The City of Toronto has three rate-supported programs funded through user fees: Toronto Water, Solid Waste Management Services and the Toronto Parking Authority. Toronto Water’s 2021 rate-supported budget will ensure the City continues to provide quality drinking water and wastewater treatment services, while dealing with the impact of extreme storms, aging infrastructure and significant city growth. The Solid Waste Management Services recommended 2021 budget provides funding to support the delivery of solid waste management programs and services, as well as safety enhancements to trucks, state-of-good-repair projects for solid waste infrastructure and the continued development of renewable energy infrastructure. The recommended 2021 operating and capital budgets for the Toronto Parking Authority (TPA) ensure the continued availability of 19,000 on-street and more than 40,700 off-street parking spaces across 307 locations throughout the city.
Budget Committee will review the staff-recommended budgets and hear public deputations on November 23. Toronto City Council will then consider the budgets for final approval at its meeting on December 16. Budget notes, presentations and reports and how to get involved are available at toronto.ca/budget.
The City of Toronto announced a pot hole repair blitz will take place this Saturday, November 7 to keep Toronto’s roads in a state of good repair in advance of the start of winter. This will be the seventh weekend repair blitz of 2020. Previous one-day blitzes took place in February (two), March (one) and May (three) and crews were able to repair approximately 42,700 potholes during the blitzes earlier in the year. More information can be read here.
Toronto Paramedic Services’ released their 2019 annual report – available online here. Some achievements worth nothing include:
This report is an opportunity to share the many accomplishments of Toronto Paramedic Services staff and recognized their hard work and commitment in caring for their patients.
TRCA’s preliminary response to the proposed Conservation Authorities Act and Planning Act amendments. Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) has been a value-added collaborator throughout the three-year Provincial consultation process regarding the modernization of the Conservation Authorities Act (the Act). The TRCA is encouraged that the Province re-confirmed the purpose of the Act and objects in the proposed amendments released yesterday. However, there is a concern that the proposed changes to the Act and the Planning Act relating to permitting, planning and enforcement, if passed, will work to diminish conservation authorities’ ability to fulfill the Act’s purpose and objects. More information can be read in the news release.
Boys’ and Girls Club of East Scarborough Remembrance Day Event 2020 will take place on November 11, 2020 from 10:45am to 11:05am via zoom. This Remembrance Day event will include a moment of silence, a video tribute, and a poem reading by myself. Please see this flyer for more information and how to join.
Vision Zero is hosting a Virtual Senior Safety Zone Review for Lawrence Ave E and Markham Rd on Friday November 13, 2020 from 2pm to 3pm. You can join by phone or computer! For more information and how to register please visit this website.
The Knights of Columbus is hosting a Community Food Drive on Saturday November 14, 2020 from 9am to 12pm in the parking lot of St. Boniface Church (142 Markham Rd). This will be a drive-through event observing appropriate COVID-19 protocols (face masks and coverings, sanitizer, physical distancing). Members of the Knights of Columbus will take donations from the trunk of your car, so you will not have to leave your vehicle. The food items will then be delivered to their community Food Bank. Thank you in advance to all who are able to participate.
Boys’ and Girls’ Club of East Scarborough Holiday Help Program registration is officially open! The Holiday Help program supports families who require some additional help with gifts for their children between the ages of birth to 16 years. For more information and how to register please visit this website.
Toronto.com is seeking holiday art from the front pages of community newspapers. Toronto.com’s three print publications, the Etobicoke Guardian, North York Mirror and Scarborough Mirror, are seeking artwork to grace the front pages of their December 24th editions. Original artwork and photographs are accepted. More information can be found in this article.
Discover magic of the holiday season with Your Toronto Zoo’s NEW Holiday Marketplace. Beginning November 20th, visit the Zoo’s first courtyard and enjoy amazing producers processors and artisans from our community. More information can be found here. Please note timed-tickets are required.
Community-Based Crisis Response Model Development Survey. The City of Toronto is looking to re-imagine ways of responding to crisis calls that are collaborative, innovative and grounded in community needs and desires. To do this, the City wants to understand your priorities for what a community-based crisis response could look like. Complete this online survey before November 9, 2020.
The City hosting a number of Community Roundtables with residents and service providers across Toronto that started October 19 and run until November 13. These roundtables are topic-specific, and residents interested in joining should visit the website for details.
The Toronto BIA Office is now accepting applications for Stream 6 of the BIA Innovation Fund. Awards range from $5000 to $25000. Finding is Limited. Descriptions of projects previously funded under the program can be found here, along with feature stories. Special consideration will be given to projects that address economic support and recovery in the context of the current COVID-19 pandemic. Deadline to apply is Thursday December 10th, 2020 4:30pm. Apply NOW.
Please click here for a list of food banks and soup kitchens in the Ward 24
Please click here for a list of food banks in East Scarborough
Please click here for a list of food banks in Scarborough
Please remember to call ahead to book to ensure they are properly stocked. For those interested in volunteering, food banks are always looking for volunteers, so please feel free to save and share this information.
Check out all Scarborough-Guildwood’s past Live Town Meetings on my YouTube channel – like and subscribe for more meetings and videos! Scarborough-Guildwood’s Live Town Halls provide the community with up to date information, supports and resources throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
Boys’ and Girls’ Club of East Scarborough Scoop
Check out the ESBGC latest Bi-Weekly School HERE. Subscribe HERE.
insidehousing: News from Toronto Community Housing
Check out their latest issue HERE. Subscribe HERE.
BusinessTO Newsletter: BusinessTO’s upcoming webinars and online events
Check out their latest newsletter HERE. Subscribe HERE.
What’s On at the Library: Home Edition
Check out the latest copy HERE. Subscribe HERE. Fall TPL live and online programming is available online.
Our KGO Updates: East Scarborough Storefront’s crowd-sourced e-newsletter
Check out their latest issue HERE. Subscribe HERE. Please take a moment to fill out this Community Check-In Survey!
TDSB Trustee Update by Ward 19 Scarborough-Guildwood Trustee Zakir Patel
Check out the latest issue HERE. Subscribe HERE.
Toronto Zoo Press Releases
Latest issue HERE. Contact achambers@torontozoo.ca to subscribe.
City of Toronto Waste Wizard. The City of Toronto’s Waste Wizard helps you find out what waste items go where! You can visit the Waste Wizard online or download the TOwaste app.
Essential Government Information for COVID-19
Public Health’s information line & 311 are experiencing high call volumes. Residents can get the information they need online at www.toronto.ca
If you need info on COVID-19, please visit the following websites:
Official Global Travel Advisory
The City’s website is updated daily with the latest health advice, and information about City services and social supports. Check www.toronto.ca/covid-19/ for answers to common questions before contacting the Toronto Public Health COVID-19 Hotline or 311.
The City of Toronto’s website can be translated into many languages using the GoogleTM Translate tool. This tool gives residents and visitors who speak other languages a way of accessing City information featured on the website. To change languages on the City of Toronto website, please click here: www.toronto.ca/home/translate/
I am continuously updating my social media platforms and my website with up to date information:
Website: www.paulainslie.com
You can also reach me by: telephone at 416-396-7222 or email me at councillor_ainslie@toronto.ca
All my Best, P